Release Date: October 12thCheck out this Halloween Treat from Tia Louise! Cover Design by Steven Novak, Novak Illustrationwww.novakillustration.com*Inspired by the cover of One to Hold, designed by Regina Wamba, MaeIDesign.com.A STANDALONE PARANORMAL ROMANCE, based on ONE TO HOLD, Book #1 in the One to Hold series.

The ONE TO HOLD series is…."All kinds of wonderful..." –USA Today"Great writing, steamy romance, humor, and a lot of heart." –Mia Sheridan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author "FIVE STARS for the entire ONE TO HOLD series!!!" –Aleatha Romig, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Synopsis

In the ancient cemeteries and forgotten neighborhoods of New Orleans lurks a realm of paranormal activity…Derek Alexander, former Marine and top investigator in his field, is hunting a killer. Melissa Jones, small-town girl and budding entrepreneur, is running for her life. When the two intersect at a bar off Bourbon Street, their sexual chemistry is off the charts, and they embark on a weeklong affair. Derek wants more, but Melissa is hiding a secret that could be the death of them both.WARNING: Contains vampires, shifters, witches, telepaths, strong language, and lots of HOT paranormal sexytimes. DO NOT READ if you’re easily frightened or easily offended.

Excerpt

MelissaI’m trapped beneath him, tears filling my eyes, uncertain what all of this means or what happens now. He saw what I am, but he didn’t pull away. He held me down, watching me writhe in agony and desire, as if he knew what was coming. Oh, god. A wave of dread tightens my stomach at the thought. He knew what was coming. He knows what I am.His head is down on his forearm, but he’s still inside me. I wait until he finally lifts it, again looking straight into my eyes. He’s so beautifully mouth-watering. Sweat mingles with the rain on his cheek, and a little drop runs down into his beard. Without having to see, I know my eyes darken. A whimper escapes my chest as the irresistible hunger burns in my throat.His brow lowers. “You want to drink me?”My eyes squeeze closed as a flood of fresh tears fills them, spilling out of the corners and down my cheeks. I take a shuddering breath, unable to deny the truth. “Can you control it?” His voice has changed. The anger is replaced by curiosity.Opening my eyes slowly, I study his expression, still stern, trying to understand. I don’t answer. I only watch him, my hunger aching in my gums.His steel eyes hold mine with such determination. “Do what you have to do, but only for a moment.” I’m confused by his permission, but I’m too weak to resist him. His grip on my wrists relaxes, and I slowly lift my hands to his broad, muscled shoulders, holding his eyes with mine as I carefully rise to lick the little bead of sweat off his cheek. A noise rumbles in his throat, and inside me his erection returns. My breath picks up as the flavor of him spreads through my mouth. Rising higher, I press my nose against his heated skin, inhaling fresh rainwater mixed with his delicious woodsy man-scent. I’m on fire. My moan is matched by his low growl as I trace my tongue along the line of his jaw to the ridge of muscle in his neck. I’m acting by instinct, grazing my razor-sharp teeth lightly across his skin, touching him gently with my tongue. His hips begin to move, thrusting again, and I feel the muscles in his shoulders tightening as his orgasm builds. At last I’ve found it—the place from before, the little pin pricks. Like before, it’s so easy, a knife in warm butter. I penetrate him, and the hot, thick warmth of his life spills into my mouth. Instantly, we’re plunged into that orgasmic plane, tumbling down the rabbit hole, lost in a whirlpool of giving and taking inexorable ecstasy.“Fuck!” He groans as he comes inside me, pulsing long and hard, over and over.My eyes are closed, my mouth attached firmly to his skin as I drown in the tsunami of pleasure, life flowing into me from all sides.It’s harder to stop this time. I want more of him, more and more of this. He seems unable to pull away as well. He’s still in me, throbbing and gripping my hips so hard, I think they’ll break.I might have kept going. I might have… but a beacon of light cuts through the quick thud of his heart beating strong in his chest. STOP! The voice I recognize as mine echoes through my transformed state. It reminds me what I want. I want this man to live. I don’t want to drain his life and doom myself to living alone as a monster. I want to live with him in the light.It takes all the strength I possess to pull out. I break my seal with a moan of regret, licking my lips to be sure none of him is wasted. Dropping my head back onto the bed, I close my eyes to savor the sensation of him swirling inside me. Derek… so strong… my fighter… my hunter… Only like before, the strange, foreign element is back. It burns longer this time before ultimately disappearing into my bloodstream. It’s not him. It’s something else. What have you done, my hunter?